how to clear cloudy water??

[redders83]

hey all...

im a newbie here trying to setup a 2ft planted tank...

i have put in 15kg of washed gravel into the tank... put in the pump and filter system.. hoping the dirt will settle down in a week or so..
i have been doing a 30% water change everyday and the water is still cloudy now..

how can i make it clear??

[adrodema]

you could try one of those powderbased formulaes that contains bioenzymes and other stuff that aid in clearing up the water. One of them is marketed by Ocean Free, the other is sold by ADA. There should be other stuff as well, Not too sure if Sera's Nitrivec would help.

[chua]

I think you should not change the water.

The cloudy water is due to the formation of beneficial bacteria.
It is very common for newly setup tank unless you use water from a developed tank.

So if you keep changing water, the cloudy water will remain.

Hope this help.

[|squee|]

You're cycling your tank, the cloudiness is natural. Stop changing the water, and let things run as they are for 3 weeks or so.

In other words, you're cycling your tank. Read up on cycling.

[redders83]

hi all,

thanks for the prompt reply...

so can i put in the fishes while the water is cycling?
i tot of introducing some yamatoes and otos into the tank first as they are hardy..

[PeterGwee]

Not sure if you are willing to do it but consider getting some "mulm" aka dirt from friends with established fish tanks/filters and add them both to the bottom of the substrate and filter (instant "live" bacteria). Pack the tank full of plants especially easy growers (important step along with the addition of mulm). Planted tanks do silent nitrogen cycles if well setup. Do not use critters to cycle a tank..it is plain cruel.

Are you doing CO2 or non-CO2?

Regards
Peter Gwee

[redders83]

Are you doing CO2 or non-CO2?

im doing a non-CO2..

[redders83]

i just put in 5 "tiger" shrimps at 60cents each n 2 otos into my cloudy tank...

after an hour, i can see 4 of the shrimps dying (they are laying sideways on the floor though still alive)...
the otos are still doing fine.. any idea whats wrong?

the water has been there since monday..
sorry as i wouldnt be able to provide any pH readings etc as i do not have those gauges..

are these "tiger" shrimps hardy??

[|squee|]

I don't know about Tiger shrimps, but generally shrimps cannot seem to survive in any tank that is less than 6 months old, or not well-established. The shrimps are most likely gone, leave one or two of their bodies there. The rotting bodies will help in the cycling.

Just start putting in plants, about say $30 or $40 worth of them. Don't wait for them to grow to fill up your tank, by then you'll have algae issues. Then leave the tank for about a month. By then the plants should have established their roots (if any) and your cycling should be completed, and fish and fertilisation can start.

Take the chance of free time now to read and ask questions

[rocketshrimp]

If you really like to see shrimps in cloudy water...start with yamatos or malayans. They usually will do ok and will show off a few stunts or two.
Once you succeed with them, then you can try the rest of the zooy kind of shrimps.